Latest from Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya
31 minutes ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Pope Leo XIV Flags AI Impact on Kids' Intellectual and Spiritual Development
Pope Leo XIV warned Friday that artificial intelligence could negatively impact the intellectual, neurological, and spiritual development of young people as he pressed one of the priorities of his young pontificate. History's first American pope sent a message to a conference of AI and ethics, part of which was taking place in the Vatican, in a sign of the Holy See's concern for the new technologies and what they mean for humanity. In the message, Leo said any further development of AI must be evaluated according to the 'superior ethical criterion' of the need to safeguard the dignity of each human being while respecting the diversity of the world's population. He warned specifically that new generations are most at risk, given they have never had such quick access to information. 'All of us, I am sure, are concerned for children and young people and the possible consequences of the use of AI on their intellectual and neurological development,' he said in the message. 'Society's well-being depends upon their being given the ability to develop their God-given gifts and capabilities and not allow them to confuse mere access to data with intelligence.' 'In the end, authentic wisdom has more to do with recognizing the true meaning of life than with the availability of data,' he said. Leo, who was elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, has identified AI as one of the most critical matters facing humanity, saying it poses challenges to defending human dignity, justice, and labor. He has explained his concern for AI by invoking his namesake, Pope Leo XIII. That Leo was pope during the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and made the plight of workers and the need to guarantee their rights and dignity a key priority. Toward the end of his pontificate, Francis became increasingly vocal about the threats to humanity posed by AI and called for an international treaty to regulate it. Francis said politicians must take the lead in making sure AI remains human-centric so that decisions about when to use weapons or even less-lethal tools always remain made by humans and not machines.
Al Arabiya
32 minutes ago
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Health officials issue warnings as UK bakes in the first heat wave of 2025
British health officials are warning people across the country to take precautions when out in the sun as the UK bakes under its first heat wave of the year. Temperatures are expected to peak at 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of eastern England on Saturday following a week of unusually warm weather, according to the national weather agency, the Met Office. That's about 12 C (22 F) higher than normal for this time of year. The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat health alert covering all of England because of increased health risks for people over 65 and those with heart and lung problems. 'Heat can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions,' Dr. Agostinho Sousa, head of the UKHSA, said in a statement. 'It is therefore important to check on friends, family, and neighbors who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.' Saturday is expected to be the hottest day of the heat wave, with temperatures falling slightly on Sunday and dropping back into the more normal temperatures next week, the Met Office said. The heat alert is currently scheduled to remain in effect until Monday morning. Unusually, temperatures in London this week have been higher than in many parts of Western Europe. 'That's because the high temperatures are not the result of hot air moving north from the Iberian Peninsula or North Africa, as is often the case,' the Met Office said. 'Instead, this weather system originated in air high over the Atlantic Ocean south of Greenland. As it approaches the UK, it descends toward ground level, causing it to warm rapidly,' Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lenhert said. 'That said, it has been plenty hot in Europe, too. Aviation enthusiasts attending the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, this week sought the shade of a Boeing 777's wing, cooling off as temperatures hovered in the low 30s C (mid-80s F).' Met Office scientists this week published research showing that climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme high temperatures in the UK. 'The chance of temperatures exceeding 40 Celsius (104 F) is now more than twenty times higher than it was in the 1960s,' the researchers said.
Al Arabiya
32 minutes ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Niger Says It Will Nationalize a Uranium Venture Operated by France's Orano
Niger's government said Thursday it would nationalize the Somaïr uranium venture operated by French company Orano and accused it of taking a disproportionate share of the uranium produced at the site. The announcement comes as military authorities in the west African country tighten their grip on foreign companies and civil society. Tensions have simmered for months between Niger's military government and the French company, and relations between Niamey and Paris have deteriorated. 'Faced with the irresponsible, illegal and unfair behavior by Orano – a company owned by the French state – a state openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 … the government of Niger has decided in full sovereignty to nationalize Somaïr,' the authorities said in a statement. The authorities allege that Orano took a disproportionate share of the uranium produced at Somaïr. They added that the company has also been accused of other irresponsible actions at the site, without elaborating. Orano did not immediately reply to The Associated Press' request for a comment. Somaïr is a joint venture between Orano and Niger's state-owned Sopamin, which operates the only active uranium mine in the country. But last year, authorities took operational control of Somaïr. They also withdrew Orano's operating permit for the Imouraren uranium mine with reserves estimated at 200,000 tons. Orano is involved in several arbitration processes with Niger. Last month, it sued the Nigerien authorities after the disappearance of its director and the raiding of its local offices. Orano has been operating in Niger, the world's seventh biggest supplier of uranium, for over 50 years and holds majority shares in three main uranium mines in Niger. Nigerien military authorities seized power in 2023 with a pledge to cut ties with the West and review mining concessions. Before that, the country was the West's major economic and security partner in the Sahel, the vast region south of the Sahara Desert that has been a hot spot for extremist violence.
Al Arabiya
41 minutes ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Europe to give Iran message that US open to direct talks
European foreign ministers will tell their Iranian counterpart on Friday that the US is open to direct talks even as it considers joining Israeli strikes intended to smash Tehran's nuclear capacity, diplomats said before a meeting in Geneva. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will be told that Iran must send a 'clear signal,' two diplomats told Reuters, with pressure mounting on Tehran to agree tough curbs on its nuclear program to prevent the potential development of an atomic weapon. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to several Western counterparts prior to the Geneva meeting, the diplomats said, indicating readiness to engage directly with Tehran. Washington did not confirm that though broadcaster CNN quoted a US official saying President Donald Trump supported diplomacy from allies that could bring Iran closer to a deal. Tehran, however, has repeatedly said it will not talk to the Trump government until Israeli attacks end. The ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, plus the European Union's foreign policy chief, were meeting separately prior to planned face-to-face talks with Araghchi. 'The Iranians can't sit down with the Americans whereas we can,' said a European diplomat. 'We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst-case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens.' The talks were due for mid-afternoon in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015. Separate talks between Iran and the US collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12. 'There is no room for negotiations with the US until Israeli aggression stops,' Araghchi was quoted as saying on Iranian state TV on Friday. Signal sought The E3 have in past talks with Iran suggested it keep some uranium enrichment but accept extremely strict international inspections of its nuclear activities. Trump has demanded zero enrichment and French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to echo that call on Friday, saying any new deal needed to go towards zero enrichment for Iran. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot spoke to Rubio on Thursday night, during which Rubio said Washington was ready for direct contact with the Iranians any time, according to a French diplomatic source. The main message Europeans will pass to Araghchi is that the US has signaled readiness for direct talks, but that Iran must give a serious signal, the two European diplomats said, without defining what the signal should be. Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has spoken to Araghchi several times since last week, sources say. While diplomats did not expect a breakthrough in Geneva, they said it was vital to engage with Iran because once the war stopped the nuclear issue would remain unresolved given that Tehran would still retain the scientific know-how. 'Even now, if they have something to say, we will listen,' Araghchi said of the Europeans. 'We are not ashamed of defending our nation's rights and we are not avoiding anyone.' German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said European powers had always been ready to talk provided Iran committed to not developing nuclear weapons. 'Now it's Iran's move,' he said. Trump has said he will decide within two weeks whether to join Israeli strikes. 'A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,' said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Russia says completed another POW exchange with Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine exchanged more captured soldiers on Friday, Moscow said, the latest in a series of prisoner swaps agreed at peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month.
